By Ken Afor
Mr. Ademola Olajire, the director of communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has disclosed on Tuesday, June 4, that the Super Eagles players, who were stranded in Lagos and Abuja, had arrived in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital city.
According to reports, the players faced difficulties joining their teammates in camp due to the recent industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), which caused disruptions in transportation services across the country.
It would be recalled that due to the nationwide strike on Monday, June 3, airports across the country were closed, causing travel disruptions for some Super Eagles’ players.
Consequently, several players, who were scheduled to fly from Lagos and Abuja to Uyo, were unable to do so.
According to the NFF, only 15 out of the 23 players were able to participate in Monday’s training session in Uyo, before returning to their base at the Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort.
NFF said in a statement: “A total of 15 players trained on Monday morning in Uyo. Head Coach Finidi George told the players afterwards that the three points at stake in Friday’s encounter must end up in Nigeria’s kitty.”
The football federation noted that five players had arrived in the country ahead of the team’s training camp. They are defenders Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Calvin Bassey, midfielder Frank Onyeka, and forward Paul Onuachu.
“They are currently in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where the Super Eagles are preparing for their upcoming matches.
“They landed in Uyo just after noon, aboard a private jet arranged by the NFF, and were driven to Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort, to meet up with their team mates for lunch,” Olajire added.
The New Diplomat reports that the Super Eagles will face the Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Friday, June 7, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, in the first of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Also, the Eagles will travel to Ivory Coast on Monday, June 10, to play Benin Republic at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny.
